Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

2

Department of Cardiology, Toyohashi Heart Center, Aichi, Japan.

3

Department of Cardiology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

4

Department of Cardiology, New Tokyo Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

5

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

6

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

7

Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: k-hayashida@umin.ac.jp.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Underfilling or overfilling of balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THVs) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is commonly used to improve conformity to small or calcified annuli in order to avoid serious complications. However, little is known about this technique. This study assessed the effects of underfilling and overfilling of THVs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Underfilling or overfilling of THVs is safe and feasible, conforming to the original annulus and covering a continuous range of annular sizes with limited THV size options. However, care should be taken when underfilling 23-mm THVs due to the potential for increased transvalvular gradient.